Freetown, Sierra Leone – December 2025: The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Timothy Musa Kabba, has confirmed that a senior government official who travelled to the United States for a conference has failed to return, a case he says reflects the very concerns that recently led to U.S. visa restrictions on Sierra Leone.
Abubakarr Sillah, Assistant Director of Labour and Employment at the Ministry of Labour, was issued a visa to attend the 2025 Diaspora Investment Conference in Maryland on August 8. Authorities say he travelled as scheduled but has not returned to Sierra Leone months after the event concluded.
Government sources describe Sillah’s disappearance as a clear example of the type of visa misuse that prompted Washington to impose limits on specific visa categories for Sierra Leonean nationals.
Speaking to the press, Foreign Minister Kabba said the matter is being treated with urgency.
“We are relentlessly working behind the scenes with the U.S. Embassy in Freetown to resolve this matter,” he assured.
The government is reportedly in communication with U.S. officials to determine Sillah’s whereabouts and clarify the circumstances surrounding his stay.
The incident has heightened scrutiny around official travel and comes at a sensitive time, as Sierra Leone continues diplomatic efforts to ease the current immigration restrictions.
Authorities say internal reviews of travel protocols for public officials may follow, as the government aims to prevent similar occurrences that could further strain bilateral relations.
